East Azarbaijan – The city of Bonab, in East Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, is leading the country’s raisin processing and export hub, with 18 active processing and packaging factories, a local agricultural official said.

 

Hassan Alivand, head of the county’s Agricultural Department, said Bonab produces 35,112 tons of raisins annually and exports more than 20,000 tons, ranking first in the province in raisin processing and exports.

 

Speaking during a visit to a processing facility, he said expanding processing and packaging industries strengthens the agricultural value chain by reducing waste, improving product quality, enhancing competitiveness, and facilitating exports.

 

The official added that the county’s new agricultural export terminal, established alongside the local customs terminal, will boost export capacity, cut transportation costs, and streamline shipments for producers in Bonab and neighboring counties.

 

Alivand also highlighted the importance of contract farming and the use of standardized agricultural inputs to improve product quality, reduce chemical residues, lower production costs, and increase vineyard productivity.

 

“Bonab has 3,700 hectares of vineyards, ranking second in grape production in East Azarbaijan. However, its extensive processing capacity has made it the province’s top center for raisin processing and exports.”

 

He said the city’s processing industry has strengthened the grape value chain, increased farmers’ incomes, created sustainable jobs, expanded non-oil exports, and generated foreign exchange earnings for Iran.